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It is my pleasure to provide our residents, businesses, and visitors with reliable information about Beachwood. You can register for updates to my blog and other news by clicking the “Notify Me” tab on the right column of this page and selecting your preferred updates and delivery method (email or text message). If you have any questions or a suggestion, please email my office or call 216-292-1901.
--Mayor Martin Horwitz

There is no place for violence or racial disparity in our world. Tonight, we stand with the African-American community and the family of George Floyd to express our outrage at yet another senseless murder of a Black man.

This list appears to be endless: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many more going back over the years. Each person was someone’s son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister who was ultimately deprived of their civil rights, human rights, and ultimately their lives all because they were born Black. We witnessed this murder in broad daylight and can only pray that the four officers involved are brought to speedy justice.

Society must make a statement that the use of excessive force is unconscionable and inhumane. I cannot pretend to understand what obstacles a person of color faces growing up in America. But I do know that growing up I remember studying the Hough riots in the mid-’60s. In the 50 years since then, I have tried to understand how this insidious problem of discrimination continues to be ignored in our country.

As a mayor, an attorney, and a citizen of this world, I believe in the human rights that we all inherently share. I also believe in our Beachwood Police Department and the training they receive. We have set high standards and I routinely hear praise from those they assist. They receive diversity training and de-escalation training.

I once received an email from a person of color in Pittsburgh who told me a story of how he got lost looking for a friend’s house and accidentally missed a stop sign. When asked where he was going, the officer warned him about the stop sign and the gentleman explained where he was going, but he did not know the street and the officer guided him to the address. He wrote to me as mayor and said in another city that experience could have ended differently and he wanted to express his appreciation to this officer for his courtesy.

I am just a mayor. I have made some positive changes, but I do not have all the answers. But I know we can always do better and we can always learn from each other’s experiences. I am always available to discuss a problem with a resident, but I would like to do more. I would like to establish a online town hall and invite our community to share their ideas, complaints, concerns, thoughts, and anything else that will make us a more compassionate and respectful city. Please watch our website and social media for information about the date and time.

As we approach this holiday weekend, it is important for you to know that there have been several drastic changes in the Orders coming from Dr. Amy Acton, the Director of the Ohio Department of Health.In order to avoid conflict with Governor DeWine’s Responsible RestartOhio program, as of May 20, 2020 the Stay at Home Order has been rescinded, for the most part.What this means is the following:

Travel restrictions have been lifted.Persons can travel in and out of Ohio with no restrictions, unless they are COVID-19 positive or exhibit signs or symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, in which case they shall not enter the State.

Elderly people and especially those with high-risk factors are still urged to take precautions and stay at home.

The 10-person gathering rule is still in place.

Traditional parades are not allowed, but drive-by parades are permitted with social distancing.

All restrictions on opening businesses in various sectors continue to be in force.These sets of mandated and/or recommended steps can be seen at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov

In the words of the new Orders, compliance is based on the concept that Ohioans will “rely on their sense of personal responsibility and accountability to others when leaving home.”There is also a rationale that “our freedom to guide our own actions is an equal responsibility to each other to slow the spread of this deadly virus.”

The most frequent question I receive concerns the wearing of masks or cloth face coverings.The rules for Responsible RestartOhio mandate that employees in a business, restaurant or other office setting wear a mask when they are not working alone.However, there is no requirement, law or mandate in Ohio that a customer/patron/client or resident must wear a mask.This is only a suggestion by the Governor; the wearing of a mask is voluntary.If you see an individual or crowd gathered in a social or business setting and they are not wearing masks or face coverings, there is nothing our local police department can do to stop this.In some larger situations, we can call the Cuyahoga County Health Department for enforcement.

This will be an unusual Memorial Day weekend.With the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center closed and many other activities limited, we can’t rely on many of our usual traditions.Nevertheless, we have opened Barkwood (by appointment), the tennis courts are open, most local restaurants and stores --including Beachwood Place-- are open and you are always welcome in our City Park.No matter how you choose to spend this holiday, if you go out, please wear a face covering in public.Stay healthy, Beachwood.

Thank you for your cooperation and sacrifice in following the state’s stay-at-home order for the past five weeks. Everyone understands how difficult and uncertain this period has been for all of us. Your efforts helped flatten the curve, resulting in a less-than-anticipated strain on our health system and first responders, along with fewer hospitalizations and deaths. As a result, Governor DeWine has announced the Responsible Restart Ohio program phasing in the re-opening of our economy.

Every state has a different timetable, different businesses that are allowed to be open and different restrictions. If you watch the national news, it’s confusing to know who is doing what and when. Therefore, the following is a summary of the process for opening Ohio under the new Stay-Safe-Ohio Order, which has been extended until May 29:

MAY 1

Hospitals can perform non-essential surgeries

Dentists

Veterinarians

MAY 4

Manufacturing, Distribution & Construction

General Office Environments

MAY 12

Consumer, Retail & Services

There are very detailed industry-specific requirements for opening. These requirements can be found at http://coronavirus.ohio.gov. The Responsible Restart Ohio rules, in general, requires employees (with some exceptions) to wear a mask or cloth covering over their face. Customers are encouraged to wear masks, but it is not mandatory. There are other social distancing, sanitization, work-space requirements, and usable space requirements contained in the guidelines.

If your business is reopening under the above schedule, please call our Fire and Rescue Department at 216-292-1965 to review your legal-occupancy limit. Under current guidelines, an office or store can only allow 50% of its fire-code-rated occupancy on the premises. Our Inspectors and Fire Department staff can also advise you on appropriate social-distancing spacing between desks, cubicles and other work areas.

Many businesses and operations continue to remain closed until further decisions are made by the Governor. These include:

Schools

Dine-In Restaurants and Bars

Personal Appearance and Beauty Businesses

Older Adult Day Care Services

Child Care Services

Entertainment, Recreation, and Gyms

In Beachwood, all summer activities in our Community Center have been canceled. All camps have now been canceled. Summer band concerts at the pool have been canceled. The Resident Shred Day that was scheduled for May 10 has been canceled. We have not made a decision on the opening of the pool and that will also be determined based on the guidelines of the State, consultation with medical authorities and other factors. The playground at the pool continues to remain closed per the Governor’s order. Barkwood Dog Park and the tennis courts are currently closed, but we are working on new procedures so that we can open these facilities safely.

Our Community Services Department continues to provide van service to resident seniors and residents with disabilities to get to medical appointments. The van service has been expanded to also include pre-paid grocery and pharmacy pickups for seniors. They also continue to make wellness calls to seniors daily or weekly. For van service, or to be added to the wellness-call list (for yourself or a friend), please call 216-292-1970.

We are entering a “new normal” that may last for more than a year. Please follow the guidelines of our businesses as you enter their premises. While we want to successfully restart this economy, it is important to recognize that the current stay-at-home order is still in effect and will continue through the end of May. Your patience and cooperation will help all of us make this difficult transition safer, more productive and less stressful.

We also want to remind you that the wearing of masks or face coverings is strongly encouraged. The mask is not a protection for the wearer, but a protection for those around you. Even if you are asymptomatic, or without any coronavirus symptoms, you can spread it to those around you through a cough or sneeze. In an effort to stop the spread of this virus, and out of respect for those around you, please wear a mask in any public area where you may be closer than six feet from another person.

Our world has changed in a few weeks’ time. The rules we are asked to live by are constantly being reviewed and revised. If you are confused, need clarification or just have questions, please contact our office at 216-292-1901 or email me at mayor@beachwoodohio.com